Collier's New Encyclopedia

A complete general encyclopedia of 1921 — the world as it was understood just after the Great War, from Aachen to Zwingli, across twelve volumes and six thousand pages.

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Sea-Water Therapy

or THA- LASSOTHERAPY. Sea water is used in the treatment of diseased or unhealthy conditions by two different methods, firstly by external bathing, secondly by injections into the tissues. The first is, of . The The first is, of course, by far the most common tonic effects of sea-bathing, even upon the healthy, have long been recognized, but it has been found especially beneficial Vol 8 found especially beneficial U-Cyc SEAWEED in the treatment of certain morbid conditions. In some nervous disorders, and in the treatment of muscular rheumatism, arthritis and scrofula, considerable success has been experienced. Those suffering from profuse perspiration may also derive benefit from it, and it seems to increase the resistance of those unduly subject to colds. It is advisable, however, to exercise caution as regards the extent of indulgence in sea-bathing. In certain diseased conditions it should be avoided altogether. Those, for instance, suffering from heart disease or disease of the blood vessels, from organic affections of the nervous system, from epilepsy and from some other diseases, should not bathe in cold sea-water except under medical advice. Those whose constitutions are not strong and in whom violent shivering follows immersion in cold water should not remain in the water for more than two to five minutes, and hot drinks should be taken to bring about a quick reaction. In some cases, where bathing in the open is inadvisable, beneficial effects can be produced by taking warm sea-water baths in the house. Those living at considerable distances from the seashore can obtain the desired results by dissolving the necessary quantity of sea-salts in fresh water.

Injections of sea-water into the tissues is looked upon with disfavor by American physicians, but in France much has been claimed for this method of application.

The water is taken far out to sea and sterilized. Injections are made into the loose abdominal tissues or into the buttocks. It is claimed that good effects are produced in infantile diarrhea. such

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